CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The mother of Todd Boyes, the man who escaped from South Central Regional Jail last week, was charged Monday in connection to helping him escape the state.
Robin Helton, of Caldwell, Ohio, was arraigned Monday in Kanawha County Magistrate Court after speaking to West Virginia State Police and the U.S. Marshals Services.
Boyes walked out of South Central Regional Jail around 5:50 a.m. Wednesday wearing street clothes. According to a criminal complaint, Boyes contacted Helton from the South Charleston Walmart. She allegedly picked him from a nearby McDonalds around 7:45 a.m., where he told her he had escaped the facility and needed her help in leaving West Virginia.
Helton told authorities she drove Boyes to Beaumont, Texas, and gave him $2,000. He was caught early Sunday morning trying to cross the Rio Grande.
“I’d do it again because he’s my son,” Helton told State Police Trooper T.L. Huffman.
Helton was charged with escape, which if found guilty would mean a sentence of up to five years in prison. Her bond was set at $50,000 cash. A preliminary hearing is set for Nov. 9.
Boyes was first in custody after pleading guilty to charges in connection with a February pursuit with authorities. He was scheduled to be sentenced last Friday on those charges.
Officers at South Central Regional Jail did not notice Boyes had left until more than 40 hours later. Five headcounts had taken place between Boyes’ departure and officials realizing he had left. Four South Central Regional Jail officers were suspended following the escape.